How tissue surroundings control cell energy and aging
Extracellular Matrix Control of Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Longevity
The team is looking at how changes in the tissue scaffold (the extracellular matrix) affect cellular powerhouses (mitochondria) and aging, which could point to new ways to help people with age-related diseases and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11368499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows a protein called TMEM2 that remodels the extracellular matrix and appears to trigger mitochondrial stress. Researchers will use human cells and tiny roundworms (C. elegans) to map what ECM changes alter mitochondrial function and to find the genes that control those responses. They will test specific ECM fragments and genetic factors to see which changes cause mitochondrial damage and which protect cells. The work aims to connect ECM remodeling seen in aging, infection, and cancer to mitochondrial health and organismal lifespan.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related conditions, mitochondrial disorders, cancer, or neurodegenerative diseases who are willing to donate tissue or biological samples for research would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or those without age-related or mitochondrial-related conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to protect mitochondria and help slow or prevent tissue damage in aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory studies have linked ECM changes and mitochondrial stress in cells and model organisms, but connecting TMEM2 specifically to mitochondrial control and lifespan is a novel direction.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dillin, Andrew G — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Dillin, Andrew G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.